Today's Opinions

By definition, a birther ought to be 1) someone who creates birth, 2) someone who bears a child, 3) someone like a midwife who catches babies, 4) a bad speller who offers choice sleeping accommodations to another on a Pullman train, or 5) the male child of another bad-spelling mom who expected a girl, whom she would have named Bertha.

Let’s see if we can get ahead of the outrage over the latest news that the city of Las Vegas overcharged its residents more than a third of a million dollars in garbage fees. Yes, the outrage is justified, since the city’s customers got the shaft for the city’s mistake, and it’s really too late to correct it (unless we want to see the city pass the mistake on to current customers in order to pay previous customers). But beyond the outrage, there’s a need for some accountability here.

The “Las Vegas United” piece I wrote a couple of weeks ago resulted in some positive feedback from readers. It seems a lot of people agree that this town needs to set aside its differences for the common good, and for that I’m thankful.

However, it seems there’s another prevailing sentiment that didn’t occur to me until a couple of people pointed it out to me. This town, they told me, has too many people who just don’t care.

On behalf of la Fiesta de la Hispanidad, I wish to thank all the participants who performed last March 26 in Ilfeld Auditorium at the 17th annual Fiesta de la Hispanidad. Each of you was an individual success, and I am deeply appreciative of you, your talent, and the hours spent in practicing for the time spent on stage. Your spirit of volunteerism and good will is what shapes and characterizes the soul of this event.

THUMBS UP! ECONOMIC SHOT IN THE ARM. The pending sale of the old Maloof building on Bridge Street could turn out to be a real plus for the overall development of the area — especially if the buyer, the Historic Kiva Theater Group, is able to incorporate the building into a triplex movie theater.